Marijuana – Page 3

January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

Chafee, Ferri, Miller: Three lawmakers talk marijuana legalization

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Marijuana policy experts from afar have suggested Rhode Island could become the third state in the nation, after Colorado and Washington, to tax and regulate cannabis. But local political policy experts have suggested it won’t happen this year because it’s an election year.

I spoke with three State House lawmakers yesterday about the prospect for Rhode Island to legalize marijuana this year: Governor Linc Chafee, Senator Josh Miller and Rep. Frank Ferri

Chafee said he doesn’t think it will happen this year, saying he would like to see what happens in Colorado and Washington and what revenue estimates look like before moving ahead.

Senator Josh Miller, a progressive Democrat from Cranston, didn’t sound overly optimistic. “I’m not sure there’s enough people who understand or take it seriously enough to totally embrace it but I think it will be a serious discussion.” But he did say the revenue projections “will be hard to ignore.”

And for those who think the politics of the election cycle will trump policy (there are very few legislators who actively oppose legalization) Rep. Frank Ferri likened its chances to marriage equality. (Ferri is gay and worked for many years to pass same sex marriage; it passed last year)

Here’s my takeaway: legalizing marijuana will create jobs, raise tax revenue and every lawmaker I spoke with yesterday said that should be the major priority of the General Assembly this year. If there is a non-reefer madness reason not to tax and regulate marijuana – beyond the reefer madness offered by the Providence Journal and the electoral concerns of those in power – I’d like to hear it.

For more on this debate, see this article from Reason (August, 2013): Marijuana’s Bright Future. And this one from the American Prospect (December 2013): Pot’s Uncertain Future.

Also please listen to this RI Future podcast featuring an informed conversation between pro-legalization advocates Jared Moffat and Rebecca McGoldrick with East Greenwich drug counselor Bob Houghtaling, who said he could support legalization if done right.

November 6, 2013November 6, 2013

Portland legalizes pot; Colorado to make $70 million in taxes

Rhode Island lost it’s chance to become the first place on the East Coast to legalize marijuana yesterday. Portland, Maine gets that honor after 70 percent of the voters passed a ballot measure that ends pot prohibition in Maine’s largest city.

“Most Portlanders, like most Americans, are fed up with our nation’s failed marijuana prohibition laws,” David Boyer of the Marijuana Policy Project told the Huffington Post. He’s right, according to a new Gallup poll that shows 58 percent of Americans favoring legalization. In total four cities, three in Michigan, voted to legalize marijuana.

But only Colorado approved a measure to profit wildly from legalization yesterday. That state expects to take in about $70 million a year from the new tax with about half being earmarked for education.

“Marijuana, Cheetos & Goldfish all legal in CO,” Governor John Hickenlooper tweeted. “Now we’ll have the $$ to regulate, enforce & educate.”

Activists and Rolling Stone magazine predict Rhode Island could become one of the next states to legalize marijuana as local legislators have been bringing up such legislation for the past several sessions.

What should we do with our new revenue?

October 29, 2013October 29, 2013

What will be the big issues in 2014 governor’s race?

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It’s all well and good to know who the characters in the 2014 campaign for governor are, but we still need to know the major themes before we can know what the plot might look like.

Here’s a list of some of the public policies I hope get a good vetting during the next 12 months.

Wall Street vs. Main Street: Hedge funds, the real estate bubble, municipal bankruptcies and retirement investments … they all speak to what role high finance should play in economic development. Good, bad or indifferent – and I think it is a very good thing – because someone from Head Start and someone from venture capital are running against each other in a Democratic primary, RI will get to see this popular talking point play out in the form of a political campaign.
Tests vs. teachers: High stakes tests will and should be a part of this conversation, but the bigger issue is the achievement gap between affluent suburbs and impoverished urban areas. If NECAP scores demonstrate anything, they show that rich kids are getting a decent public education and poor kids, by and large, are not.
Cuts vs. expenditures: Conservatives will claim we need the lowest tax rates in the region to improve our economy while it remains to be seen if progressives will campaign on making the rich and powerful pay their fair share. Note that these goals aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive of each other. RI could, for example, the lower the small business tax rate and eliminate corporate tax expenditures (read: giveaways). And here’s hoping Clay Pell runs on a “tax me” platform!
Legal vs. criminal: There are a host of issues before the General Assembly that will likely spill over into the governor’s campaign because of their national implications – think voter ID and pot prohibition. Payday loans will be a particularly interesting one, as both Angel Taveras and Gina Raimondo have worked together on this issue.

What am I forgetting? Let us know in the comments what issues matter most to you this campaign season…

October 1, 2013October 1, 2013

Judge drops marijuana citation against RI Future editor

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Today I went to court to tell a judge that I did nothing wrong and broke no rules even though a police officer found four grams of “fresh” smelling marijuana in my car. The judge agreed and dismissed the complaint against me.

“Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac’s buddy, did two years for a joint!,” my good friend Randy Dolinger wrote to me after learning I was given a $150 ticket for possession. “I guess this means that we are winning the fight.”

Yes, we are winning indeed. America’s pot paranoia is going the way of alcohol prohibition: to the dustbin of over-authoritarian jurisprudence that just didn’t make much sense or do any good.

15 states including Rhode Island considers a small amount of cannabis akin to not wearing a seat belt: you get a ticket. Decriminalization will save our state an estimated $12 million a year. Furthermore, the marijuana in my car was someone else’ perfectly legal medicine.

Colorado and Washington have done away with these legally awkward and otherwise meaningless infractions by legalizing it, which is expected to reap billions in new tax revenue and the feds said it’s okay with them. Rhode Island has considered legalization, too. Such a move would boost our economy, shrink our government and help keep good folks like me from clogging up our courts. It’s also a rare instance in which the left, the right and political centrists all agree.

Reefer madness is over and the vast majority of people recognize that marijuana is no worse than alcohol, and in many ways it’s much better. Really, the only question for Rhode Island at this point is do we end pot prohibition before or after Massachusetts.

May 28, 2013

Legislation would legalize small amounts of pot

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Today, at the “Rise of the Senate” (around 4:30pm or so) in room 313 of the State House, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be hearing public testimony and comments on Senate Bill 334, which will create the “Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act.” This legislation, introduced by Senators Nesselbush, Miller and Lombardo would “legalize the possession of less than one ounce or less of marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia, and a limited amount of marijuana plants.”

The War on Drugs, universally recognized as a destroyer of lives and families, a waste of government treasure yet a windfall for organized crime and a squandering of police resources, needs to come to an end. Legislation such as this is one means by which to accomplish this.

Protect Families First, a local organization that recognizes the devastating impact the war on drugs has had on families would like to see government regulate marijuana in much the same way as alcohol and tobacco. this would allow the government the opportunity to tax marijuana and direct some of the money currently wasted on prosecution and incarceration on treatment and prevention strategies.

If you think this is an important issue, you might want to be at the State House later today to let your voice be heard.

April 23, 2013April 23, 2013

Debate at Brown today: should marijuana be legal

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While local legislators debate marriage equality on Smith Hill today, two national experts on drug policy will be debating another progressive issue on College Hill: legalizing marijuana.

Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former Obama adviser on drug policy, squares off against Aaron Houston, the national director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy at 4:30 in the List Art Building (68 College Street), Room 120 at Brown University.

From the press release:

Colorado and Washington recently passed voter initiatives to make the sale and cultivation of marijuana a legally regulated industry — should other states follow their lead? As marijuana legalization is being considered by lawmakers in Rhode Island and nationally, two sides will argue for and against more liberalized marijuana laws.

The event, hosted by the Janus Forum and Brown SSDP, will be held today, Tuesday, April 23 at 4:30 p.m. in Brown University’s List Art Building (68 College Street) in room 120.

January 31, 2013January 31, 2013

Marijuana Advocates Predict RI May Legalize

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The Marijuana Policy Project says Rhode Island is likely to be among the next wave of states to legalize marijuana as Colorado and Washington have already done, reports The Nation today.

“The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) tells The Nation that the next round of marijuana legalization measures is most likely to come from Alaska, Maine, Oregon, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Nevada,” according to the country’s oldest progressive publication.

“With drug law reform, it’s the states that move federal policy,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). “There’s going to continue to be increased efforts at the state level to bring about additional reforms—legislative in 2013, or possible citizen initiatives in 2014 or 2016.”

To that end, the Students for a Sensible Drug Policy are asking Rhode Islanders to sign this petition calling on the General Assembly “take the lead on marijuana legislation.”

January 12, 2013January 12, 2013

Poem: Medical Marijuana Emergencies

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While legalizing medical weed

They overlook the patient’s need

To have some EMTs on hand

Who’ve smoked some pot and understand

Just what it’s like to get so high

You leave the ground and touch the sky

So when a 9-1-1 calls in

From someone in a reefer spin

The Marijuana EMTs

Grab their Ray-Bans, grab the keys

To a Volkswagen bus painted black

Dead-head sticker stuck on the back

Surfboard stretcher, muffler’s blown

Siren sounds like a saxophone

To reach the patient just as soon

As they grab lunch, ‘cause dude, it’s noon.

January 6, 2013January 8, 2013

Kennedy, Culpo Are Against Marijuana Legalization

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While Rolling Stone magazine may have called us the , two high profile Rhode Islanders are killing the buzz.

Former CD1 Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who now lives in Jersey, is lending his political star power to a group called SAM, or Smart Approaches to Marijuana, that will advocate for lowering sentencing instead against legalization.

And, perhaps of greater political significance, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo of Cranston told Fox News that she isn’t an advocate of ending pot prohibition, though she said she supports medical marijuana.

Not that I think either member of this odd couple will have an effect on the debate locally, but I did say it would be just retired cops and school drug counselors fighting against legalization and so I stand corrected. Add to the list a recovering Oxycontin addict and a beauty pageant winner. Stiff competition indeed.

November 16, 2012November 16, 2012

Progress Report: Legalized Pot’s Economic Benefits; John Loughlin and the Future of the GOP; Rabies on Prudence

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It’s interesting to note that the potential piece of 2013 legislation that has garnered the most media attention since the election isn’t tax equity, marriage equality or pay day lending reform … it’s marijuana legalization. At least it’s the only bill to get front page ProJo coverage so far (though I think that story’s lede is somewhere shy of being unbiased).

Now, some may argue that making it easier to get high isn’t as important as dealing with our struggling economy, but there’s no shortage of economic benefits to legalization.

Rhode Island spends $40 million annually on marijuana prohibition – that’s more than it costs to have a state legislature! The public defenders office estimates legalization would save taxpayers $12 million a year (read this letter the office sent legislators last session for more info). Does anyone want to argue that Rhode Islanders needs to punish pot smokers more than we need $12 million?

John Loughlin tells RIPR that the local GOP needs to move left on the same day that party chairman Mark Zaccaria said he won’t seek another term. I speculated last night that he might make a good fit to replace Zaccaria. GoLocal adds some to it this morning.

Scott MacKay has more on why the Republican party is in such dire straights: because they don’t even seem to realize just how out of touch they have become with the American people. (Plus he throws in an awesome Catamount reference).

Dan McGowan also chimed in on the tales of woe for the local GOP. Some quick thoughts on his piece: Demographics were not the problem for the GOP, nor was it the national brand. To put it real simply, Rhode Islanders are on balance more liberal than Republicans.

ICYMI, you may also want to read Sam Howard’s thoughts on this topic that we ran earlier this week.

The lesson in the dispute between Providence and the labor union that represents municipal workers there: get it in writing.

Prudence Island is a really bad place for wildlife rabies, ecologically speaking.

NPR: “Want to help Sandy victims? Send cash not clothes.”

Thanks to my buddy Bill Felkner for sending along this article about the Westerly firewood dealer who charges more for a cord to Obama voters than Romney supporters. The lesson here for wood stove owners might be to get your supply in the spring, when both political and economic forces drive the price down…

November 15, 2012

RI Should Lead, Not Follow, On Pot Legalization

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Look around and you’ll notice the era of reefer madness is dying a slow death all over the country. Last week, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to to officially legalize it, as Peter Tosh might say. And yesterday Reason.com, somewhat fittingly, broke the story that RI state Rep. Edith Ajello plans to reintroduce a bill that would legalize and regulate marijuana much like alcohol. Maine is considering doing so too.

Oregon rejected a similar measure on election day, and the fairly conservative editorial page of the Oregonian quickly opined that the state legislature should pass the bill lest the state lose out on the business and tax opportunity to Washington – the same logic by which Rhode Islanders decided they didn’t mind casino gambling coming to the Ocean State, saying:

And if business booms at Washington’s pot shops, as expected? Our neighbor to the north will collect millions of dollars in new “sin” taxes, with much of the money coming from Oregonians who’d be happy to keep their business — and taxes — in state if given the opportunity.

There are far more tax dollars to be had by legalizing cannabis than through expanding gambling and the social ills are far, far less. Here’s hoping Rhode Island leads rather than follows on this one.

Here’s a short video of RI Future talking with Rep. Ajello last year about why marijuana should be taxed and regulated rather than remaining the purview of the black market.

June 5, 2012June 5, 2012

Punishing Pot Possession With Only a $150 Ticket

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Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana could become punishable by a $150 ticket, rather than $500 and potentially jail time, if Governor Chafee signs into law a bill passed by the House and Senate Tuesday.

The bill would decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot in Rhode Island – as is the case in 13 other states, including not only our neighbors Connecticut and Massachusetts but also typically conservative-leaning states such as Mississippi and Nebraska.

Decriminalization means, in part, that offenders would not have a black mark on their permanent record if caught with small amounts of pot. It will also save the state millions of dollars, according to lawmakers, in cutting down on court and law enforcement efforts in processing crimes involving only small amounts of cannabis.

The bill passed the House by a 50 to 24 vote, after a contentious debate in which some lawmakers, either on accident or perhaps on purpose, confused decriminalization with legalization. In the Senate, the bill passed 28 to 6. In previous years, the bill has not made it out of committee in either chamber.

Gov. Chafee has not said whether or not he will sign the bill into law.

Here’s more on the vote, and the debate, from the AP’s David Klepper.

May 21, 2012May 22, 2012

State House Rally: Stop Paying for Pot Prohibition

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There’s a rally Tuesday at the State House, at 3:30, to call attention to marijuana porhibition in Rhode Island. Legislators at the RI State House are considering bills to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana (under 1oz.). Concerned residents across the state are invited to attend a rally to support marijuana decriminalization, a sensible measure which would remove current criminal penalties with a $150 civil fine.

Confirmed speakers include: Representative Jay Edwards (D – Tiverton, Portsmouth), House Sponsor of the Bill; Dr. David Lewis, MD, Professor Emeritus of Community Health at Brown University; Beth Comery, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

Important Notes: PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY AND PROFESSIONALLY. Please arrive early, as there will be many people going through State House security.

For more information:

RSVP to the event on Facebook

And make sure to Like ‘Rhode Island Campaign for Informed Marijuana Policy‘

Watch short films produced by OpenDoors of RI:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRa9KTtYxAw&noredirect=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150909052586399

Read research on this issue within RI

Read the bill texts:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/billtext12/housetext12/h7092.htm
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText12/SenateText12/S2253.pdfTo get involved:

Volunteer in your Neighborhood:

Contact Becky Mer at OpenDoors of RI at bmer@opendoorsri.org

Email your Legislator:

https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1237

Sign an online petition:

http://signon.org/sign/rhode-island-legislature

March 27, 2012March 27, 2012

Public Defender Wants to Legalize Pot

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Add Rhode Island Deputy Public Defender Barbara Hurst to the list of people who think the state should decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. In fact, she endorsed legalizing and taxing marijuana too.

She sent a letter to the Senate committee considering a bill tonight that would make possession of less than an ounce of pot punishable by $150 ticket instead of up to a year in jail.

“The RIPD is of the opinion that the changes contained within these two pieces of legislation, while taking different approaches, make sensible and timely modifications to our state’s criminal justice and enforcement policies The RIPD is also of the opinion that the collateral benefits to be realized from these changes would be added revenue to the state, and a more efficient allocation of limited criminal justice resources.

Seventy years of marijuana prohibition have turned a little-known medicinal herb into a product that’s been used by nearly half of all Americans, including President Barack Obama and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Given this widespread use and acceptance the state has no business making responsible, adult marijuana consumers into criminals. And independent scientific research consistently concludes that marijuana is far safer than alcohol- both in risk of addiction and toxicity.”

Ending the prohibition on marijuana, she said in her letter, could save the state some $12 million.

Read the full letter HERE.

March 27, 2012March 27, 2012

Decriminalizing Pot Would Save State Money

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Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine have already decriminalized possession of less than ounce of marijuana, as have a total of 13 states. But don’t take our neighbors’ words for it, a special Rhode Island senate commission on marijuana prohibition found in 2010 that the move would actually save the state money.

“Even by conservative estimates,” reads the group’s final report. “Rhode Island state agencies and departments involved in criminal justice stand to save money in their respective offices should the Rhode Island General Assembly decide to pass the decriminalization of possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.”

The report is relevant as the Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to hear Sen. Josh Miller’s bill that would make possession of less than an ounce of pot punishable by a $150 ticket. Currently, those caught with less than an ounce can be imprisoned for up to a year or fined between $200 and $500, or both.

In 2009, according to the group’s report, 1,145 people were charged with simple possession of marijuana and were represented by the public defender’s office. At an average of $347 per case, the change in law could save Rhode Island some $400,000 a year.

A “majority” of the Rhode Island Senate Commission to Study the Prohibition on Marijuana, made up of medical, legal and political leaders from across the state “agrees that marijuana law reform will not only benefit the state from a budget perspective, but would also avoid costly arrests or incarcerations due to simple possession of marijuana.” Former Central Falls Police Chief Joe Moran and retired State Trooper Joseph Osediacz did not think so.

The state as a whole seems to agree with the majority of the commission. A Public Policy Polling survey found that 65 percent of Rhode Islanders agree that the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana should be lessened. Last week, when a House committee debated a similar bill 15 people testified in favor of the legislation and only one, Kathy Sullivan of the Barrington Prevention Coalition, testified against it.

Also on the docket is Sen Rhoda Perry’s bill that would legalize and tax marijuana.

March 21, 2012March 21, 2012

Committee Considers Legalized Marijuana

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Marijuana would be legal, and available at designated stores, if a bill being heard at the State House tonight were to become law.

“It would be a brave new world,” said Rep. Edith Ajello, a Providence Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation. “It would be taxed. There would be stores that sold marijuana, legally licensed by the state just as stores are licensed to sell alcohol.”

Ajello, it should be noted, doesn’t think that brave new world will come to fruition this session. Not only does she not think her bill would pass this year, she doesn’t think the federal government would allow the change.

But a related bill, which would decriminalize marijuana, might. This bill, she said, has healthy support in both chambers and is similar to the law in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

That decriminalize bill, sponsored by Rep. John Edwards, D- Tiverton, Portsmouth, would lessen the punishment for possession of less than an ounce of pot a ticket and a $150 fine. Oh yeah, and “forfeiture of the marijuana,” according to the bill that will also be heard tomorrow night.

Law enforcement is expected to oppose the legislation.

Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York have all decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot. In total, 13 states have such reduced penalties for possession.

Ajello said she expects marijuana will be legal in the near future once more people realize how harmless it is.

I do think it is where we will be,” she said. “Marijuana is not thought to be any more dangerous than alcohol and we have legalized and taxed alcohol. I think ultimately we can move through decriminalization to legalizing and taxing.”

January 22, 2012January 23, 2012

Will Rep. Bob Watson’s 2nd Drug Arrest in 9 Months End His Political Career?

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The Providence Journal (and everyone else) is reporting that Rep. Bob Watson was arrested again for possession of marijuana early Sunday morning.

When the police arrived, they saw a white Volvo sedan in the lot, with its rubber tire missing from the rim on the front driver’s side. The driver’s side door was open and a man who identified himself as Robert Watson was standing beside it, according to the police. There were no passengers in the car.

“The officers observed what appeared to be a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana on the driver’s side floor of the Volvo,” Buckley said. “The officers also discovered a clear sandwich bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the area of the driver’s seat.”

This is after his April, 2011 arrest in Connecticut for DUI and possession of marijuana when stopped at a sobriety checkpoint.

Police stopped Watson, a Republican state representative from the wealthy town of East Greenwich, Rhode Island at a police checkpoint in East Haven on Friday and there was a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from Watson’s car, East Haven Sgt. Gary DePalma said.

Which was after a comment made that offended the Guatemalan community (anyone who has ever watched Watson perform at his best on the House floor knows that this is pretty typical for him).

“I guess that if you are a Guatemalan gay man who likes to gamble and smoke marijuana, you probably think we are onto some good ideas here.”

Shortly after his April arrest, Rep. Watson was ousted as Minority Leader in the House on a vote of 6 to 2.

Considering this new arrest, his denial of the April charges and his statement regarding that arrest seem, ummm, less than authentic.

I honestly don’t really care whether or not Rep. Watson smokes pot. And I give him credit for being a sponsor on the 2005 medical marijuana legislation. I do care, however, that he was driving erratically, under the influence, and could have hurt or killed someone. That isn’t cool at all.

But with this new arrest, my guess is that his days in the General Assembly are numbered. While I’m not privy to any information regarding a Republican primary challenger (oddly, Republican Party insiders don’t like talking to me), there is at least one Democrat who formally kicked off his campaign in November, Dr. Mark Schwager.

Schwager served on the East Greenwich Town Council for two terms, from 2006 to 2010. He ran for former Sen. Michael Lenihan’s seat in the Nov. 2010 election, but lost in that contest to North Kingstown’s Dawson Hodgson.

In the 2010 election, Schwager lost to Hodgson by 928 votes (of a total of 11,084 cast).

Candidate	Total votes	Pct
Dawson Tucker HODGSON (REP)	6006	54.20%
Mark SCHWAGER (DEM)	5078	45.80%

Dr. Mark Schwager is well-known in East Greenwich politics. In addition to the two terms he served on the East Greenwich Town Council and was recently appointed as the town’s Fire District Commissioner, by a unanimous vote. Speaking about his campaign against Watson, he said:

“I just think it’s a better race for me,” he said. “I’m very involved in East Greenwich, in municipal politics and government and community service. I know the area really well, the issues really well. My kids have been through the school system. I have my medical practice here. I was on the Council here. So I’m just very focused on this community.”

Time will tell.

As for money, Bob Watson had $5,167.25 as of September 30, and Mark Schwager had $12,395.75 as of September 30. The last quarter 2011 reports aren’t due until the 31st, and it will be interesting to see if Rep. Watson catches up.

And how is this for irony…

…released [Watson] at 4:20 a.m. Sunday morning.

4:20… now that’s funny.

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